Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/680997
WILL FULLER GOES IN FIRST ROUND Former Irish wide receiver Will Fuller became Notre Dame's second pick of the first round of the NFL Draft when the Texans traded up to the No. 21 spot to select him. Fuller became the sixth player chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft under Kelly. The Philadelphia native snagged 29 touchdown passes in his last two seasons before declaring for the NFL Draft following his junior year. He caught 76 passes for 1,094 yards in 2014 and 62 for 1,258 as a junior in 2015. He is the first Irish receiver to go in the first round since Michael Floyd went to the Cardinals in 2012. This year marks just the second time since 1994 that Notre Dame has produced a pair of first‑round players. In 2012, Floyd and Harrison Smith (Vikings) both were among the first 32 picks. Few NFL receivers are more pro‑ ductive than Houston's DeAndre Hopkins, but now head coach Bill O'Brien has a vertical threat on the opposite side of the field to pair with the former Clemson wideout. Interestingly, Fuller committed to Penn State before flipping to the Irish when O'Brien was the head coach of the Nittany Lions. O'Brien said Fuller could "jump out of a car" and imme‑ diately run a 4.3 in the 40‑yard dash. It's that type of game‑changing speed and scoring ability that attracted the Texans to him. "Brian Kelly spoke very highly of him," O'Brien told The Houston Chronicle, "and I've got a lot of re‑ spect for Brian Kelly. And I'm famil‑ iar with [Fuller's] family. "We couldn't hold on to him at Penn State, but we're looking for‑ ward to working with him here." NICK MARTIN JOINS IRISH TEAMMATE IN HOUSTON Nick Martin might not have the ceiling his older brother Zack had a Two-time Notre Dame captain Nick Martin was selected in the second round by the Houston Texans, the highest Irish player picked at center since Jeff Faine in the 2003 first round. PHOTO COURTESY HOUSTON TEXANS